The Thoughts of Wesley son of Cornelius

ELIPHAZ the TEMANITE
"'Consider now: Who, being innocent, has ever perished? Where were the upright ever destroyed? As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it. At the breath of God they are destroyed; at the blast of his anger they perish. ... Is not your wickedness great? Are not your sins endless?'" (Job 4:7-9, 22:5 NIV)

JESUS
"Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. Jesus answered, 'Do you think that these Galileans were worse sinners than all the other Galileans because they suffered this way? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish. Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them--do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem? I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.'" (Luke 13:1-5)

"And he [Jesus] went along, he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?' 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned,' said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. As long as it is day, we must do the work of him who sent me. Night is coming, when no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light of the world.' [keep reading this passage for how God's work was displayed]" (John 9:1-5)

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"This is what the LORD Almighty says: 'Is there no longer wisdom in Teman? Has counsel perished from the prudent? Has their wisdom decayed?'" (Jeremiah 49:7)

"When Job's three friends, Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite, heard about all the troubles that had come upon him, they set out from their homes and met together by agreement to go and sympathize with him and comfort him." (Job 2:11 NIV)

I have not completely decided if I want to start this study in Job yet. In the last few weeks I have not had the amount of time needed to do real indepth Bible study. I have always wanted to go through the book of Job. Why not now?! We'll see how far I can go with this. If everything goes as planned, the next few posts will deal with the 'not-so-helpful' advice of Job's friends. From their error, maybe we can learn how not to give advice.

Tonight I am going to take the liberty and actually post a personal thought on a random topic. Early on, I decided that the purpose of my blog was to share passages from Scripture and give small commentaries based on what I, Wesley, thought. However, tonight will be different. Why? For pride more than anything!

Today at lunch I over heard a family member giving his or her thoughts about a particular topic. However, I have had this particular thought for some time, and now I wish to publish it before this other party can take credit.

The topic: a trip to Mars. Many people have been perplexed by President Bush’s occasional push to spend government funds for space travel. Ideas like a space station on the Moon and a long flight to Mars by humans seem financially unbeneficial. But I disagree. Since the beginning of human history, technology has primarily advanced through war. However, leaps in technological discoveries due to war have slowed down. This plateau might be due to a change in world dynamics. Economics and computers are now the ‘war’ weapons. And I feel these new weapons can only advance mankind so far—on their own that is! But how would a renewed interest in space travel advance technology in a noticeable way? Are there not too many challenges? Yes, but it is these challenges that would bring new and large discoveries.

Problem 1: Being able to sustain life in space for longer periods of time. Current technologies, to the best of my knowledge, could not sustain life at a space station as far as the Moon for any substantial amount of time, let alone a long trip to Mars. The discoveries required to sustain life might help sustain life longer here on Earth. The biological sciences which have stayed in the shadows in the last few decades could reach their golden years. Physical sciences like physics and chemistry reached their peak in the early 1900s. The 2000s will be the stage for biological sciences.

Problem 2: Large amounts of radiation exposure. This problem is actually a subset of the first. The large amounts of radiation in space prevent long stays in space. Currently, radiological engineering is sketchy. The models and equations do their job but are very crude. A better mating of biology and radiation physics would be required.

Problem 3: Nuclear power. No oil, no natural gas, and no renewable fuels (to the best of our knowledge) exist on the Moon. Nuclear power technologies will be needed. The same holds for the propulsion of the shuttle to Mars. As energy experts look into the power requirements in the future here on Earth, they see a large shortage around 2012 with our current policies. I believe nuclear power (the fission kind) is going to be revitalized. How awesome would it be for the power companies and the space organizations to work together.

I have only scratched the top of this issue. However, I was quick to publish to get bragging rights. I do not doubt there are many other problems that would lead to large leaps in technological advancements. How exciting!

NOTE: I return to the “normal scheduled” posts tomorrow.

After coming off of the Law series, I do not know where to go now. Therefore, I ask my few readers if there is a series they would like me to do. Until then ...

"This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel, says: 'In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength ...'" (Isaiah 30:15 NIV)

Now for something a little different. In the car, I have been listening to musical Les Miserables by Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg and based on the novel by Victor Hugo. Many sections seem to correspond to my previous posts. Therefore, I will share a few lines of the musical in the following days. Keep in mind that Jean Valjean is the criminal (and 'good' guy of the plot) and Javert is the policeman (and 'bad' guy).

JAVERT
Now bring my prisoner 24601
Your time is up
And your parole's begun
You know what that means.

VALJEAN
Yes, it means I'm free

JAVERT
No! It means you get
Your yellow ticket-of-leave
You are a thief.

VALJEAN
I stole a loaf of bread.

JAVERT
You robbed a house.

VALJEAN
I broke a window pane.
My sister's child was close to death
And we were starving.

JAVERT
You will starve again
Unless you learn the meaning of the law.

VALJEAN
I know the meaning of those 19 years
A slave of the law.

JAVERT
Five years for what you did
The rest because you tried to run
Yes, 24601

Postulate 1: With or without the Law, Man is a sinner without excuse.

Postulate 2: The Law is the perfect guide that cannot be perfectly followed.

Postulate 3: The ultimate punishment for breaking the Law was death; however, the full penalty was never carried out. (One exception!)

Postulate 4: Not under the Law, but not free from the Law.

Postulate 5: Gentiles commonly speak of freedom from a bondage they never knew.

(Postulate 6: original notes had a sixth postulate, removed in final version)

Postulate 7: Faith is the only way!

"Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil." (Ecclesiastes 12:13,14 NIV)

Postulate 7: Faith is the only way!

"For if a law had been given that could give life, then righteousness would indeed be by the law. But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe." (Galatians 3:21b-22 ESV)

No matter who you are, no matter when you lived, faith in Christ Jesus is your only salvation.

"And they [tribe of Judah] rose early in the morning and went out into the wilderness of Tekoa [to fight the Moabites, Ammonites, and some Meuites]. And when they went out, Jehoshaphat [King of Judah] stood and said, 'Hear me, Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem! Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be established; believe his prophets, and you will succeed.'" (2 Chronicles 20:2o)

"Behold, his [Babylon personified] soul is puffed up; it is not upright within him, but the righteous shall live by his faith." (Habakkuk 2:4)

Those under the law and those not under the law, were, are, and will be saved only by faith.

Consider Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets. All were saved by faith and faith alone (ref. Hebrews 11).

Postulate 5: Gentiles commonly speak of freedom from a bondage they never knew.

“No foreigner is to enter within the balustrade and embankment around the sanctuary. Whoever is caught will have himself to blame for his death which follows.” (Inscription between the Court of the Gentiles and the temple courts found in an archeological dig)

The sin of man had clung to the Law of God like a tick to a dog. “But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous desire.” (Romans 7:8) Many of today’s Christian theologians are Gentiles; therefore, I wonder if we truly understand what it means to be under the law. Paul was preaching to those under the law that Christ was their freedom. We as Gentiles commonly interpret this freedom to mean the regulations of the Old Testament are now pointless, void, or just good ideas. However, we speak as if we know what it feels like to be bound by the law. We do not!

Imagine if you can the sacrifice of an animal for your sins. You have grown up with your family going habitually to the temple. You have been told stories of how your father, grandfather, etc, had very little but still managed to bring a lamb or small bird to the temple. Now you have grown and have given birth to a baby boy. Eight days after his birth you become excited because now you get to travel to the temple (probably as a large family) and have your boy circumcised just as your father did with his son. You have picked out the best pair of doves or young pigeons for his ceremony. But wait; there is a man going around telling you that these rituals are no longer needed. The worst thing is he is a Jew like you. How dare he try to destroy the Law of Moses. Is he greater than Moses? You doubt not.

“When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, shouting, ‘Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled the holy place.’” (Acts 21:27-28 NIV)

Postulate 4: Not under the Law, but not free from the Law.

“For though I [Paul] am free from all, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law.” (1 Corinthians 9:19-21 ESV)

“For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it. For he who said, ‘Do not commit adultery,’ also said, ‘Do not murder.’ If you do not commit adultery but do murder, you have become a transgressor of the law. So speak and so act as those who are to be judged under the law of liberty. For judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy. Mercy triumphs over judgment.” (James 2:10-13)

So what is to be made of this? Is the law meaningless to us now? My answer would be no. God still has requirements (expectations) for you and me. Jesus, in his Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7), referenced how we should follow certain regulations. He actually made certain regulations more restrictive (e.g. anger equivalent to murder).

Now there are laws that have become obsolete. Any law concerning sacrifices, burnt offerings, sin offerings, Levitical duties, etc. can be compared to the law in New Hampshire that requires every barn to have a bucket full of water at all times. This bucket law outdated plumbing systems. Now water can be supplied to the barns by pipe. The bucket law (which is still on record) has been made obsolete. However, the principle of this law still exists. As the writer of Hebrews addresses, Jesus was the perfect High Priest and the perfect sacrifice. No sacrifices are required after the ultimate sacrifice. (Circumcision can be added to this group of obsolete laws, but for a different reason. That is beyond the scope of today’s post.)

Apart from obsolete laws there are laws we still hold today. If you flip through Leviticus I hope that you would agree that laws like stealing, lying, cursing, idolatry, corrupt sexual relationships, etc. are still valid. A Christian should not be guilty of any of these. How would we know what sin is if we did not have the law?

What about the Sabbath, tithing, marrying non-believers, and oaths? My gut feeling is they still are requirements from God. Will following them save me? Absolutely not! Should I realize that God still establishes boundaries? Probably so!

Postulate 3: The ultimate punishment for breaking the Law was death; however, the full penalty was never carried out. (One exception!)

“If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress must be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:10 NIV)

However, consider David and Bathsheba:

“Then David said to Nathan, ‘I have sinned against the LORD.’ Nathan replied, ‘The LORD has taken away your sin. You are not going to die.” (2 Samuel 12:13)

This example is one of many. Postulate 2 said the Law could not be perfectly followed. Therefore, everyone under the Law should have been killed. But they were not. Nevertheless, I do not doubt several Israelites were killed for their sins. However, how many Laws did they break before the one violation had them killed? But the Judge (God the Father) was satisfied when the punishment of the Law was finally carried out completely.

“All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.’ Clearly no one is justified before God by the law, because, ‘The righteous will live by faith.’ The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, ‘The man who does these things will live by them.’ Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Galatians 3:10-13)

“God presented him [Christ Jesus] as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood. He did this to demonstrate his justice, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished … For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering [see Leviticus 4:1-5:13]. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” (Romans 3:25-26, 8:3-4)

Postulate 2: The Law is the perfect guide that cannot be perfectly followed.

As we show in Postulate 1, all men are sinners. Therefore, no one can follow the Law.

"Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 5:20-21 ESV)

"What then shall we say? That the law is sin? By no means! Yet if it had not been for the law, I would not have known sin. I would not have known what it is to covet if the law had not said, 'you shall not covet.' But sin, seizing the opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness. Apart from the law, sin lies dead. ... For sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, deceived me and through it killed me. So the law is holy, and the commandment is holy and righteous and good." (Romans 7:7-8,11-12)

Paul goes on to say the cause of death is sin. Sin is what is bad, not the law. A must read is the rest of Romans 7.

Postulates 1 and 2 are very solid. As a foreshadow, Postulate 3 will be like 1 and 2 and describe the punishment of the Law. Postulate 4 is the one I am currently struggling with; am I free from the Law?

This post is a very special post. I somewhat deviate from the study of the Law. However, there is a loose tie. I will post later in the study of the Law about how the Law reveals our sins. Therefore, the Law separates us from God. However, Christ draws us close to God. And it is this close relationship that we desire and need so much. Humans need relationships. Today I commemorate this post to three couples with whom I have a close relationship. Nevertheless, today was a difficult day.

Joe and Heather: Today Heather learned that she lost her second baby to a miscarriage. I pray that God will ease the mental and physical pain. I also pray for strength for Joe to be there for Heather.

BJ and M: Today M learned that L could possibly have an inactive thyroid. L has not been gaining weight like she should. I pray that God will activate L’s thyroid and give BJ and M a peace of mind. Plus, I pray that God will give BJ wisdom in how to comfort M.

Jesse and Leslie: As far as I know, today was not unique for Jesse and Leslie. However, I know that in the last few days they have been trying to have a baby. I pray that God would bless them with a child of their own. As with Joe and BJ, I pray that Jesse’s love for his wife will only increase.

Postulate 1: With or without the Law, Man is a sinner without excuse

“For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Romans 1:18-20 ESV)

“For all who have sinned without the law will also perish without the law, and all who have sinned under the law will be judged by the law. For it is not the hearers of the law who are righteous before God, but the doers of the law who will be justified. For when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, even though they do not have the law. They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.” (Romans 2:12-16)

This postulate can also be seen in the Old Testament. On many occasions God punishes the nations, who do not have the Law, for their sin. Yet in Amos, his people (divided into Israel and Judah at this time) are punished alongside these other nations.

“For three transgressions of Damascus, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have threshed Gilead with threshing sledges of iron. … For three transgressions of Gaza, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they carried into exile a whole people to deliver them up to Edom. … For three transgressions of Tyre, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment … For three transgressions of Edom, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment … For three transgressions of Ammonites, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment … For three transgressions of Moad, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment … For three transgressions of Judah, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment, because they have rejected the law of the LORD, and have not kept his statutes, but their lies have led them astray, those after which their fathers walked. … For three transgressions of Israel, and for four, I will not revoke the punishment …” (Amos 1:3, 6, 9, 11, 13, 2:1, 4, 6)

"Moses summoned all Israel and said: Hear, O Israel, the decrees and laws I declare in your hearing today. Learn them and be sure to follow them." (Deuteronomy 5:1 NIV)

I glance over at my bookshelf and see a book titled Five Views of Law and Gospel. As I look at the back cover I notice the credentials of the five writers. I also notice words that I have never seen before: theonomic and non-theonomic Reformed, dispensational, etc. I do not doubt these gentlemen are very experienced and knowledgeable on the Law. But I learned a new theological term from a visiting pastor last year: 'hog-wash.' In the following days (maybe weeks) I plan on blogging about the Law. Due to the fact that there seems to be at least five distinct views (probably more), my goal is not to some how shed the ultimate solution. I am only an engineering student, you know! My plan is to see what the Bible, the whole Bible, says about the Law and how it applies to me. The book mentioned above now returns back to the shelf, never opened. The book on my night-stand will now be opened.

"Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 'The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. ... Then he [the king] said to his servants, "The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. Go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find." So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. "Friend," he asked, "how did you get in here without wedding clothes?" The man was speechless. Then the king told the attendants, "Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." For many are invited, but few are chosen.'" (Matthew 22:1-3, 8-14 NIV)

I hope in the last few posts I have convienced the reader that marriage is a picture, or representation, of the relationship between God and his chosen ones. As with the relationship with God and the believer, God is the only one who defines marriage. No church, no government, and not even a couple can define marriage. Paul comments on this topic: "This [two becoming one] is a profound mystery." (Ephesians 5:32)

Why is marriage such a crucial issue? I believe the strength of a people or nation is dependent on the strength of God's marriage.

"The LORD said to me [Hosea], 'Go, show your love to your wife again, though she is loved by another and is an adulteress. Love her as the LORD loves the Israelites, though they turn to other gods and love the sacred raisin cakes.'" (Hosea 3:1 NIV)

Homosexual, adulterer, divorcer, or sinner in general, God still loves you and will take you back. Why? I believe we will never know completely. Who would take back someone who rejects him? Who would love a prostitute, a whore? Only Jesus Christ!

"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear." (Revelation 19:6-8)

NEXT POST: the Wedding Banquet

"At the window of my house I looked out through the lattice.
I saw among the simple, I noticed among the young men, a youth who lacked judgment.
He was going down the street near her corner, walking along in the direction of her house at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in.
Then out came a woman to meet him, dressed like a prostitute and with crafty intent.
(She is loud and defiant, her feet never stay at home;
now in the street, now in the squares, at every corner she lurks.)
She took hold of him and kissed him and with a brazen face she said:
'I have fellowship offerings at home; today I fulfilled my vows.
So I came out to meet you; I looked for you and have found you!
I have covered my bed with colored linens from Egypt.
I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes and cinnamen.
...
My husband is not at home; he has gone on a long journey.
He took his purse filled with money and will not be home till full moon.'
With persuasive words she led him astray; she seduced him with her smooth talk."
(Proverbs 7:6-21 NIV)

How often we are led astray from God by wordly things. We commit adultery against God daily! We "see that the fruit of the tree [is] good for food and pleasing to the eye."

"I [Jesus] tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart." (Matthew 5:28)

"If a man lies with a man as one who lies with a woman, both of them have done what is detestable." (Leviticus 20:13 NIV)

I now enter a topic that has been hiding in the shadows but has peeked its head out in the last few years. I hope not to make this post more contraversal by adding another divisive topic; however, I believe the sin of homosexuality is based on this other 'sticky' topic. What is this other topic: the difference between men and women.

"A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels [I do not know what that means], the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head." (1 Corinthians 11:7-10)

I believe this passage about head coverings should not be taken legalistically. Paul has made clear in many passeges that the foundation of Christianity is not based on works. The key concept that I take from this hard passage in 1 Corinthians is that men and women are different, and, therefore, should approach God differently in worship. Men should come to God as men, and women should come to God as women.

In a homosexual relationship, two of the same party are involved. If marriage is a picture of God's relationship with a Christian, the false picture a homosexual relationship portrays is either the equality of God with man or the equality of man with God.

"In the pride of your [King of Tyre] heart you say, 'I am a god; I sit on the throne of a god in the heart of the seas.' But you are a man and not a god, though you think you are as wise as a god. ... you will die a violent death." (Ezekiel 28:1, 8)

Divorce is a very divisive topic. However, if my theory that marraige is a picture of God's relationship with a believer is true, then maybe I can shed some light on why God hates divorce.

"'Haven't you read,' he [Jesus] replied, 'that at the beginning the Creator "made them male and female," and said, "For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh"? So they are no longer two, but one. Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.'" (Matthew 19:4-6 NIV)

"Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ... No ... For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 38-39)

God hates divorce because it pictures him as wavering and unfaithful. He is neither!

Marriage: "To the woman he said, '... Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.'" (Genesis 3:16b ESV)

God Relationship: "But your iniquites have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear." (Isaiah 59:2 NIV)

"Judah has broken faith. A detestable thing has been committed in Israel and in Jerusalem: Judah has desecrated the santuary the LORD loves, by marrying the daughter of a foreign god. As for the man who does this, whoever he may be, may the LORD cut him off from the tents of Jacob--even though he brings offerings to the LORD Almighty. Another thing you do: You flood the LORD's altar with tears. You weep and wail because he no longer pays attention to your offerings or accepts them with pleasure from your hands. You ask, 'Why?' It is because the LORD is acting as the witness between you and the wife of your youth, because you have broken faith with her, though she is your partner, the wife of your marriage covenant. Has not the LORD made them one? In flesh and spirit they are his. And why one? Because he was seeking godly offspring. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith with the wife of your youth. 'I hate divorce,' says the LORD God of Israel, 'and I hate a man's covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,' says the LORD Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith." (Malachi 2:11-16 NIV)

The simple and quick reading of this passage tells how the Israelites were intermarrying with pagan women. However could the above passage also be referring to a broken relationship between man and God? My next few posts will deal with how marriage is a picture of our relationship with God and how we destroy this picture with divorce, adultery, homosexuality, etc.

"So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27 ESV)

"... a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh." (Genesis 2:24)